Soundscape labeled 'good event,' despite noise complaints

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The event, which began New Year’s Eve and ended outdoor music activities Jan. 2, attracted about 2,500 people each day, Horizon General Manager Corinna Osborne said.

“Overall, it was a good event,” she said. “Unfortunately we did get some noise complaints.”

Both Horizon and Douglas County received several complaints related to loud music at the concert, according to officials. The noise complaints were made while DJs performed at Soundscape’s main stage, located outdoors in the Horizon’s back parking lot.

Complaints made to the county were from a number of South Lake Tahoe residents and at least one Stateline business, County Manager Steve Mokrohisky said.

“The concerns that were raised with us were related to noise and the volume of the noise — bass in particular,” he said.

But the county also had an issue with Soundscape overstepping its permit and playing music later than its 11 p.m. cutoff time Jan. 1, Mokrohisky said.

County officials spoke to Soundscape organizers after the incident and requested that music be turned down earlier on Jan. 2 in a show of good faith, he said. Soundscape officials complied with the request, but the county is still “disappointed” that the event caused noise disturbances in the community, Mokrohisky said.

Summer Winter Action Tours, the organization that presented Soundscape, did not return phone calls for comment by deadline.

Osborne said the only other issues with the festival stemmed from excessive drinking around New Year’s.

“Whenever you have concerts of this magnitude,” she said, “there’s some over-consumption of alcohol on New Year’s.”

However, she said the issues were minor and that New Year’s Eve was in fact quieter at Horizon than it was in previous years.

Still, the resort managed to rent out every available room on Dec. 31, Osborne said, but few of those bookings were attributed to Soundscape festivalgoers.

“(Horizon) would have sold out regardless,” she said.

Instead, Soundscape proved to be a major benefit on Jan. 1 and 2, she said. New Year’s Day and the few that follow are typically a slower time for the resort, but the concert brought appreciated business.

As for allowing Soundscape’s return, Osborne said the Horizon would “consider it with some changes.”

Mokrohisky said further evaluation of the festival is needed before the county approves permits for another Soundscape.